Thawing out...

Sorry for the month long hiatus!! I need a new laptop and my desktop is in a part of the house that has been just too cold this winter. So I just kept close to the fire and kept stitching! Lots of projects going on and I am being very good at finishing...must cut down on my WIPS!!

I designed this bag yesterday for my La Passacalglia quilt from Millefiori Quilts by Willyne Hammerstein. It's an  English paper peicing project. I found this cute fabric at Jo Ann's. 

It's got a built in needle book and pockets for your supplies...I have more that I want to add too...this is like a "sketch" of what I have in my minds eye. So this is still a work in progress. I need to decide on some quilting.

I also crocheted a pillow cover this is the start of it...

I made some of my Easter bread last week...

I designed another "Spirit Animal" pillow for my nephew Sebastian's second birthday... These will be able to purchase for custom order on Etsy. I am now working on a bear cub! 

Crocheted some hot pads...

Made this adorable mug rug from Amy Sinabaldi's new book Sweetly Stitched Handmades... It is such a beautiful book and the projects are so well written.

And working in my Knitting Fever Noro Heart blanket Kal...

Yes, these are all iPhone 6 photos...I have better photos but again that would require leaving the fire!!! That's just how cold it's been and still is...come on spring really?!

I will expand on these projects more and if I am brave enough I may write up a tutorial for my sewing bag...yikes! 

I am also totally into Instagram these days so if you want to find me that's where I am! 

I am off this weekend to Florida for a few days... Of course it's like in the 90's!!! So we are going from freezing and rainy to sweltering...hey anything for a date with a mouse ;-)! Yes... we are headed to Walt Disney World...we are very excited and I am actually looking forward to some sunshine!

I hope you all had a great holiday week...and the weather is warming up for you!

Be well!

Ming 

. 

How do you survive winter?

Here is how I have been surviving winter...

Lots of creating ...lots of Instagram...and a sunny grapefruit and olive oil cake with dark chocolate. This cake is a must for winter. You zest two grapefruits a and massage it into sugar in the raw...Ahhhhh the smell was to die for especially in a cold winters day. Not too sweet and not heavy. Perfect with tea! Don't forget to try some Chicken Paprikash, a new venture for me. I used a recipe from Food 52. A new favorite sight of mine. I would add some mushrooms and cauliflower next time or even omit the chicken for a vegetarian version.  

I usually wouldn't admit this but I am longing for spring right about now. This winter is feeling a bit claustrophobic this year for some reason... This is odd for me as I adore winter. I must be getting old or just tired of loading wood into the stove! 

I will have the crochet hearts pattern written out for you soon. I know I'm late or consider it really early for next year. 

Blogging lately has been a bit hard as we are in desperate need of a new computer. It takes hours to upload photos. So today I decided to phone blog! 

At present moment we are on our way to visit family in upstate NY where temps are -4...my best friend is in Puerto Rico leaving for a cruise... I think I'm going to do it her way next year! 

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day and stay warm wherever you are! I'll be back sooner than later with some new creations to share. 

Be well,

Ming

Ever so...

Grateful for a another wonderful (and a wee bit stressful) holiday season with family and friends...

We had a Holiday concert at school, a visit from our cousin from out of town and a great nephews first Christmas...lots of laughs,love and the editable stress but it was all good!

Gingy got his mate and added some adorable trees to go with them. these prototypes will go for sale in my Etsy shop as soon a I fix it. Some how it got completely deleted..arrghh. I am not that tech inclined so all this takes me a while.

I hope your holidays were warm and wonderful and I look forward to sharing and creating with all of you in 2015!!

Much love,

Ming

Note... I apologize if that last picture offends anyone ...I inherited this house with the animals and if possible I would remove them but its not ..so instead I honor them. 

Merry Making...crochet gingerbread man

Merry making verb. / making things while continuing  state of merriment.

Yes, thats what I am doing this year. Making while being happy about and not rushed and agitated.

If it gets done... great ....if it doesn't ... Oh well. Thats how it is going to be this year. Enjoying the season for its real joys, excited children, first Christmases, little things that make people smile..and quite frankly things that make me smile! If Momma isn't  happy no one is !!! Right?!

One thing that has made me smile is this little Gingy that I crocheted up...

Fig. A

Fig. B 

Fig. C

Fig. D

Fig. E

Fig.F

Fig. G

Fig. H

Fig. I

Fig. J
  

Fig. K

Fig. L

 So here is the pattern: I used Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift and an E hook 3.5mm...prior to this I used Filatura di crosa sport wool which they discontinued the color.  If for play I would use a super wash and adorn accordingly for little ones. 

Legs: Figures A & B

Chain 6 join with a slip stitch

Next row: ch 3 serves as first double crochet 11 dc in ring join with slip stitch..12 dc total

Next row: single crochet in next stitch place marker in stitch just made sc around... 12 sc total

repeat for 17 rows. make 2 

Body: Figures C thru G

Join the  legs together by two slip stitch into two sc  pm in next sc. Sc around to start to form the body - 22 sc  *you do not sc into the two slip stitches that join the legs. 

Next 3 rows repeat sc around 22 sc.

Next row:  5 sc to hips increase 2 singe sc in 6th sc  pm here... 12 sc to next hip increase 2 sc in next stitch pm...sc around to beginning marker. 24 stitches

Next row: sc around 24 stitches

Next row: sc around  increasing one sc at markers 26 stitches.

Next 2 rows: repeat 28 stitches.

Begin decreases 

Next row: sc to  marker decrease 1 stitch at each marker 26 stitches

Next row: repeat 24 stitches 

Next Row: repeat 22 stitches 

Next row: sc in each stitch  22 stitches pm accordingly

Next row: Sc decrease in 1 stitch at each marker 20 stitches

Next row: repeat 18 stitches fasten of leave a long tail 

now stuff the body.

Head: Figures H-J

Ch 6 sl st to join

Next row: ch 3 serves as first dc 11 dc in ring join with a slip stitch...12 dc

Next row: pm to mark beginning of round ...2 sc in each stitch ...24 sc

Next 2 rows: sc in each stitch around 24 sc

Next row: 2 sc in each stitch 48 sc

Next  2 rows: sc in each stitch 48 sc 

Next row: decrease 1 stitch ...sc 22 pm. dec 1 stitch ...sc around to beginning marker 46 sc 

Next row: dec 2 stitches sc to marker dec 2 stitches ...sc around to beginning marker 42 sc 

Next row: repeat 38 sc 

Next row: sc in each stitch around 38 sc 

Next 2 rows: repeat 38 sc

Next row: dec 2 stitches at each marker 34 stitches 

Next row: repeat 30 stitches 

Next row: repeat 26 stitches

Next row: repeat 22 stitches 

Next row: repeat 18 stitches 

fast off leave a long tail to sew

Arms: Figure K

chain 4 join with a slip stitch pm marker to mark begining of round

Next round: ch 3 serves as first dc 7 dc into ring ...total 8 dc 

Next round: sc crochet around 8 sc 

repeat for 14 rows 

make 2 

stuff head and arms and sew doll together. 

* I do not sew up the body and the heads before joining. this is to make sure the ear has enough base so it does not flop around. So make sure you stuff accordingly so it has some strength to hold the head up.

** I am the worlds worst at typing... any problems or errata please contact me asap... I will be happy to walk through any issues you occur.

I adorned my "Gingy' with a hat, scarf ...mini yo you for buttons and plastic buttons for eyes. Be creative!

                                             

Next post will have more of what Christmas fun is going around here. This adorable house was a present from my sister for Thanksgiving. It was one of her thrift store finds...it play music and has skaters! My new favorite decoration...Thanks Sister!! 

 I hope you take a go at "Gingy" and I am working on the misses at the moment!

Be well, 

Ming